Pesticides Blamed
for Deaths of 58 Cows on Alabama Farm(Beyond
Pesticides, June 13, 2003) According to a preliminary investigation
of state veterinarian Tony Frazier, organophoshate pesticides have been
named as the likely killer of 58 cows on a farm in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Investigators are still analyzing soil, water, vegetation and bovine
blood and tissue samples to determine what exactly caused a large portion
of farmer Jason Frank's herd to drop dead late last week.

The case was not
only the state's largest loss of livestock in several years but also
unique because the cattle showed no signs of struggle. "These cattle
died pretty much instantly," Dr. Frazier told the Mobile Register.
"Some of these animals looked like they died just where they lay."
Initially state agricultural investigators suspected that an infectious
disease, such as anthrax, had killed the cattle. This has been ruled
out.

Results of the tests
on all samples collected should be conclusive within a few days, but
preliminary tests pointed toward organophosphate insecticides that may
have been used in a peanut patch, also owned by the Frank's, where the
dead cattle were found. Dr. Frazier hypothesizes that the pesticides
may have accumulated after recent heavy rains.

Initially, 56 cows
were found dead. Two more were euthanized by a local veterinarian over
the weekend. "This is a horrible disaster for this farm family,"
Marla Faver, an agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System
told the Mobile Register. "This is a large sum of money."
Brood cows, like the ones that died, cost around $1,000 each because
they can produce calves.

Organophosphate
pesticides, one of the most acutely toxic classes of pesticides, affect
the nervous system through the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase,
an enzyme needed for proper nervous system function. Many are easily
absorbed through the skin and are synergistic with other chemicals,
including pharmaceuticals. Exposure to organophosphates has been shown
to cause headache, dizziness, profuse sweating, blurred vision, nausea,
vomiting, reduced heart beat, stomach cramps, diarrhea, loss of coordination,
slow and weak breathing, fever, coma, uncontrollable twitching, and
chemical sensitization.

EPA estimates about
60 million pounds of organophosphates are applied to 60 million acres
of U.S. crops each year.